Egerbakta: Peat Bogs, Nature Trail and Cultural Heritage

Egerbakta is an interesting place to stay if you would like to combine a wetland landscape, a themed nature trail and historic buildings. The peat bogs of Egerbakta are considered a rare and protected natural feature; they have been protected since 1978. They are freely accessible and can be reached from the village in about 20 minutes on foot. This makes nature and architecture distinct focal points for your visit.

Peat Bogs and Nature Trail

The “Baktató tanösvény” nature trail introduces the flora and fauna of Egerbakta’s peat bog depressions. It also covers the history of research, hypotheses about their formation and the conservation values of the surrounding Natura 2000 area. The trail is therefore about not only the landscape itself, but also how it formed and its natural value.

The freely accessible nature trail begins in front of the house at Tóvölgy u. 2 in Egerbakta. You can walk around all three lakes along the trail. The third lake, Felső-tó, is visible, while the first two are heavily overgrown with vegetation. The lakes thus differ in visibility and vegetation; if you walk around them, the view is not the same at every point.

Another natural attraction is Öregtölgy, an old oak on a hiking trail to the peat bogs, about a 20-minute walk from the village. It is estimated to be around 700 years old. The tree is just under 25 metres tall and has a breast-height diameter of 625 cm. Alongside the bogs, the itinerary therefore includes a single natural landmark distinguished by its age and size.

Church and Historic Monument

The Roman Catholic Church of Alexandriai Szent Katalin offers a different focus from the lake landscape. Construction began in 1773. Rococo stone vases at the corners of the pediment were created by Eger sculptor Antal Steinhauser in 1775. The two dates mark different stages: the start of the church’s construction and the creation of its stone details.

The rectory stands below the church hill. It is a historic monument and a single-storey residential building from the late 18th century, built as a detached house or along the street frontage. Together, the church and rectory invite you to look not only at the year construction began, but also at their design and architectural form.

Hiking Options from Egerbakta

The Egerbakta Piros-túra starts in Egerbakta, in the Heves-Borsod Hills, and reaches the Bükk Mountains at Eger-Almár after 10 km. This offers different route options: you can walk around the three lakes on the Baktató tanösvény, while the Piros-túra is described as a 10 km route to the Bükk. Check trail conditions before setting out.

For planning your stay, the themes are easy to distinguish: the peat bogs and nature trail bring together the landscape, flora and fauna, and nature conservation; the church, stone vases and rectory add a historical and architectural dimension. The hiking route adds another option, with a specified distance and destination.

Discover more destinations: Noszvaj, Egerszalók, Kerecsend, Verpelét, Erlau, Egerszólát, Feldebrő, Maklár

Go to the wider travel overview: Egri.